By Daniel Pitcher
Leinster fans could see a return to action for long term injury due Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien for this weekend’s trip to Wasps in the European Champions Cup, while there are no concerns over Jamie Heaslip's fitness either.
The rumour mill has been in overdrive over the last number of weeks since the Leinster Rugby Twitter account tweeted a picture of Healy and O’Brien arriving to the training pitch in UCD.
In last week’s injury update ahead of Castres, Leo Cullen said that they were both coming along well and he gave Healy a better chance of return as O’Brien was around a week behind.
This week management were a little more confident than they have been but still are not ruling anything in or out.
Leinster skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy said, “They are both now in full training this week so it will be a case of seeing how they get on and then there will be a decision to be made later on in the week.”
“You’re always hopeful that they will be there but it’s a case of where they are at physically and if they are ready for a game like this so that decision will be made later on in the week.”
Captain Jamie Heaslip came off during the bonus point win over Castres again holding his right shoulder he had injured in the win over Ulster at the beginning of the month.
He though will be available to go into Matt O’Connor’s starting 15 for the game on Saturday.
“It was more precautionary, he picked up a little bit of a bang on his shoulder but he’s absolutely fine he’s in really good spirits this morning and there were no other injuries of concern.”
The win at the weekend at the RDS has put Leinster’s European fate back in their own hands knowing that even a losing bonus point would see them take a quarter final spot – However a win and Matt O’Connor’s side will take a valuable home quarter final which would likely be held at the Aviva Stadium.
"On one of the day’s this week we will run through the Wasps plays, what they use of set-piece so we can get an eye up on what to expect.”
“We are going there to win so if it ends up if we lose and go through anyway that will be great but we are just concentrating on the win.” Murphy said.